“The Rose That Never Faded”

Time has a way of circling back to what the heart never truly releases. Some loves arrive quietly, leave gently, and return only after the soul has learned what it needs to hold them. Nick and Tabby’s story isn’t one of coincidence—it’s one of becoming, of seasons apart and the kind of love that waits patiently until both hearts are ready to meet again.

Their story began six years ago in a way that felt almost accidental. A casual Facebook add. A shared post—one of Nick’s heavier, more vulnerable thoughts. Then a message from him, playful and self-aware, teasing Tabby for “stealing” his words because there was only room for one person to be sad. It wasn’t meant to be anything more than a moment. Somehow, it became the beginning.

From the start, conversation flowed like they had known each other longer than they had. When they finally met face-to-face, they went to Qdoba, ate their food, and then sat in Nick’s Camaro long after the meal was finished. Hours passed without notice. They talked about everything and nothing—life, pain, dreams, laughter—until silence itself felt comfortable. Love didn’t rush in that night. It settled. Quiet. Certain.

That feeling returned again years later, unchanged—like love that had simply been resting, waiting to be found again.

At the time, Tabby was fully immersed in motherhood, raising her two children, Zander and Harley. Nick, too, was learning who he was and who he still needed to become. Though the connection was real and deeply felt, timing asked them to let go. They stepped away carrying the same truth in their hearts: what they had was special, even if it couldn’t be held yet.

Six years passed. Life happened. Growth happened.

In 2024, when they found their way back to each other, it felt less like starting over and more like coming home. The laughter came easily. The connection was immediate. The love hadn’t faded—it had simply been hidden beneath time and distance.

This time, falling in love meant more than just the two of them. Nick had a beautiful three-year-old daughter, Lainey, whose presence softened everything. Tabby fell for her almost instantly—her laughter, her curiosity, her small hands reaching for trust. Loving Nick meant loving Lainey, and Tabby did so with an open heart. In return, Nick showed the same tenderness and patience with Zander and Harley, stepping into their lives with care and intention. Together, they didn’t just blend households—they blended hearts.

Their love story is stitched together with moments both playful and profound:

Nick once pulled into a random state park parking lot, music playing, just so they could dance together to “Heaven” by Kane Brown—no audience, no reason other than love.

There were nights at the bar where Nick pulled Tabby close, dancing to “Pony,” laughter mixing with desire.

There was a beautiful proposal at Natural Bridge, surrounded by quiet beauty and the weight of knowing this love had earned its place.

And then there are the small moments—Tabby’s random snuggles, the kind that happen without thought, simply because love is present and safe.

When asked how this love makes them feel, Nick says it makes him feel complete. Tabby says she always knew—deep in her soul—that he was the one she belonged to.

Even during the years apart, love never stopped leaving signs. Tabby would think of Nick whenever she saw a single red rose. She remembered the one he unexpectedly bought her at a bar just before Valentine’s Day, and another picked up from a gas station in Havelock, North Carolina during a visit—simple gestures that carried meaning far beyond their size. To her, those roses were reminders: some loves don’t end—they wait.

Looking back, they believe the years apart were never wasted. They were necessary. Time to grow individually. Time to learn hard lessons. Time to become the people capable of loving each other with patience, depth, and grace. What once felt like loss now feels like preparation.

Now, Nick and Tabby are standing at the edge of a new chapter—one filled with late-night snacks, messy floors, laughter echoing through rooms, and three incredible children at the center of it all. Their love isn’t perfect, but it’s intentional. It’s chosen. It’s rooted in the understanding that love is more than butterflies—it’s timing, growth, and the courage to try again.

💖 Two adults. Three beautiful children. Hearts full of love. And a future they waited years to finally share—because what is meant for you will always find its way back, softened by time, strengthened by growth, and ready to stay.

After years of love, growth, and fate’s gentle guidance, Nick and Tabby are about to turn their dreams into reality, pledging their hearts to each other forever on October 4, 2026—the day their love story becomes a promise for a lifetime.